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[W1062]Writing A Business Email

by Scott Lindsay, Sco

Emails are quite a powerful marketing tool, if not misused. Misusing electronic mail is an actual trend. It happens to us all on a daily basis. You've received them: the very inviting email that suggests to visit a certain website where a wonderful Russian lady awaits to become the perfect bride, or to read news from a Nigerian magnate that wants to give us a few million dollars, etc…

These are really annoying Spam emails, but these are not the only emails that are Spam. Even legitimate companies perform a type of less insistent Spam to sell their products. As a matter of fact they do not really Spam, but send unsolicited commercial emails. Because people don't really know the definition of Spam (unsolicited bulk email) they tend to treat this type of Internet marketing approach aggressively and lose trust and respect for the companies practicing it.

If you are serious about Internet marketing you cannot use emails to spam people trying to make a sale. You should use emails to communicate with your clients and business partners. Writing a business email is not as easy as it may seem. When you send out a business email you send a message that represents your company. If the email is not properly written the clients will doubt your professionalism. It doesn't matter what business you are in. Sending a properly formatted email shows respect for the receiver. Just consider emails your online stationery. Treat an email as you treat that perfectly designed piece of paper you use to write business letters on.

When you compose an email you notice that there is a subject line. Don't ignore it. That's the most important part of your message: type in a short summary of your message. This is how the reader will know how urgent or interesting your message is. For example, if you write a message as a follow-up for a phone conversation, write that in the title. It will remind your client or business partner that he or she was expecting a message from you. Don't assume that people will just remember who you are and what you do. Unless you already have a long-term partnership, understand that they are busy too, and don't waste their time.

When you format your email, keep in mind that plain text is still the best email format. Some people disable html. If you are a huge fan of HTML, send your email as plain text and HTML, allowing your readers to make the choice. Keep your lines and your message short and clear. Don't “stuff” your message with words. Remember to respect your client's time: get to the point. Use line breaks to separate paragraphs and ideas. The reader should be able to follow your message easily.

Last but not least, don't forget your email signature and the disclaimer. The email signature is a very good promotion tool. Business signatures start with a brief, serious courtesy, followed by your name, your function, a brief description of your website or business (that will act like a sales pitch) and a link to your site. Don't forget the http:// in your link, as many email programs fail to identify www.yoursite.com as a link, forcing the readers to copy-paste it in their browsers instead of conveniently clicking on it to see your site.

The disclaimer is also very important, especially when you send attachments, for example: “Although reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this email, (your company) cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.”

Remember: any document you send out of your company, whether in electronic format or paper, needs to respect your corporate identity standards. As an online entrepreneur, you'll be sending emails every day. So build up a strong business identity and BOOST YOUR BUSINESS by sending out professional emails.

If your writing's just a hobby you can take a casual approach to getting writing jobs, but if your writing's a business, you need a strategy to get a constant flow of clients.

So here's a strategy, in five simple steps. All of the steps are important. Just follow them to the best of your ability at the moment, and you'll be amazed at their effects.

1. Decide who your target audience is

Your "target audience" is simply the people who can buy your writing. For example, if you want to write for magazines, that's a target audience, but it's too broad. Narrow your audience as much as possible - to "parenting magazines", for example.

If you want to write for the Web, you'd narrow your target audience to: "gaming sites" or to "businesses in my home town which don't have a Web site."

Although you can have several target audiences, just focus on one at a time.

2. Create a marketing plan to market to that audience

Your next step is to create a marketing plan. This is simply a written document which outlines the strategic actions you'll need to take to achieve your goal.

Your marketing plan should include not just your actions, but also the capital you'll need to invest over a year, and the profits you're likely to make.

3. Get a Web site - it's the easiest way to get writing jobs

These days, your Web site is the focus of your marketing plan. A Web site's an amazing tool for your writing career, and unless you're as old as I am, you won't appreciate just how amazing it is.

In the late 1970s, when I started writing, I typed out manuscripts first on an Olympia portable typewriter, and then as I began to make sales, on an IBM Selectric golfball typewriter... I sent out manuscripts by the armload, spending much more on postage than I could afford.

If you don't have a site, get one. If you do have a site, pay attention to it, and learn how to optimize it - your site is your 24x7x365 sales person for your writing.

4. Develop a specialty

Specialize in something. Everyone wants a specialist. My specialty is computers and technology; several clients have been with me for 15 years.

You can specialize in any area which appeals to you, but develop a specialty of some kind.

5. Be patient - all your marketing takes time to work

You need to think long term for your writing business. Where do you want your writing to be in three or five years? Every word you write today gets you closer to success, so never begrudge your words.

If you're a completely new writer, the above five steps may not make much sense to you right now. Just complete as many as you can. All the writing you do is experiential: you learn by doing. So as you write, the reasons you'll following the five steps will become clear to you.

If you're an established writer, use the five steps to achieve success - follow them, and your writing business will thrive beyond your dreams.

Article Source : Pg. 338

About Author

Both Scott Lindsay & Angela Booth are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Scott Lindsay has sinced written about articles on various topics from Payday Loans, Computers and The Internet and Mens Health. . Scott Lindsay's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.

Angela Booth has sinced written about articles on various topics from Article Writing, About Branding and Copywriting. Discover how easy it is to with Angela Booth's "Sell Your Writing Online NOW" Training Program. The training helps you to earn while. Angela Booth's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.